The 2013 Toyota Sienna is in its third generation of production and it comes with some fairly major changes for this model year. Perhaps the biggest change is the dropping of the four-cylinder engine option. There are some standard features added, as is the case with most years, but the overall design hasn't changed much. Overall, it's tough to match the convenience and reliability of the 2013 Toyota Sienna. It offers the availability of All-Wheel Drive (AWD), which is a nice feature for those in the non-temperate climates and rare in the minivan segment. It is also one of the few vehicles you'll find that has a total seating capacity of eight. A nice array of options and technological features rounds out Toyota's flagship minivan, the 2013 Toyota Sienna.

Expert Reviews

"When it comes to family haulers, nothing beats a minivan. And when it comes to minivans, it's tough to beat the 2013 Toyota Sienna." (Edmunds) It's hard to tell if the Sienna is really that good or if the competition has gotten that thin; either way, it looks like the Sienna is the cream of the crop of the 2013 class of minivans. Experts like the comfortable seating and family-friendly technology features. The first- and second-row seats don't offer quite the legroom of competitors like the Honda Odyssey and Dodge Caravan, "but cargo capacity behind the third-row seat is greater than those rivals; at 39.1 cubic feet, Toyota says there's sufficient cargo space for five golf bags or four large suitcases - even with all seats in use." (Kelley Blue Book)

Doing away with the noisy 2.7L four-cylinder is going over well with most experts, but the fuel efficiency of the 3.5L V6 is still a concern. "The Sienna is a sensible choice, but in some ways it isn't as nice as the last generation. It rides very comfortably, but handling is lackluster." (Consumer Reports) The interior finish is comparable to past Toyota models, which is to say not extravagant but not too shabby either. The addition of several hard plastics around the cabin adds to the lackluster appearance.

Owner Reviews

Owners have their own critiques of the Toyota minivan. "Very comfortable in every respect. One concern is low city mileage, around 13-15 (V-6) and that's taking it easy. Another concern is poor 3rd row seat access. Difficult for adults to get in and out. Four gull wing type doors would solve that issue." (Review taken from Kelley Blue Book) One thing agreed upon by several users is that the Sienna maintains an ample amount of power in any situation. The ride is comfortable enough to put your little ones to sleep on longer journeys, especially if you go with the first- and second-row Captain's chairs.

"I just passed the four week and 800-mile mark. Overall I am impressed and satisfied. You really can't beat these vehicles for comfort and a serene highway ride and the sense of safety they convey. I like the backup camera and the satellite radio. I like the overall silkiness of the transmission and steering." (Review taken from Kelley Blue Book) Features that are mentioned most often in a positive light are the plentiful drink holders, the backup camera, the roomy interior, ample cargo capacity, and the satellite radio. Items looked upon with a frown are the price, some cheaper build materials in the dashboard, and poor fuel efficiency.

Lineup

The 2013 Toyota Sienna comes in several different trim levels, but no matter which you choose you'll receive the 3.5L V6 engine. You can opt for the 7-passenger version that comes equipped with the second-row Captain's chairs or you can opt for the 8-passenger model with the center bench seat. The many variations of trim options include the standard L, LE, Limited, SE, XLE, XLE Mobility, and LE Mobility. Most of these trim levels are split into 7-passenger and 8-passenger models, but all come equipped with the six-speed automatic transmission.

The Sienna is the only minivan to still offer the AWD option, which brings the amount of pick-n-pair options to twelve. The MSRPs on these options range anywhere from $26,435 at the low end, to $41,325 for the top-end AWD Limited. Toyota offers eight different exterior color choices, which can be coupled with one of two interior color options.

Interior

The front seats of the Sienna sit comfortably with plenty of legroom. The center console offers two drink holders, but sits somewhat low compared to the chairs. Going with the second-row Captain's chairs will garner some oohs and aahs from passengers, as they are now equipped with a recline option. Just like airplane seats though, this does cut down on the legroom of the third-row passengers. The dashboard controls are nicely placed and easily accessible from nearly all seating positions. The speedometer is slightly offset but quite large and easy to read. The rear doors are awkwardly shaped and they can make it difficult for larger passengers to get into the van.

There is plenty of space to haul even large items behind the third-row seats, but storing the seats and removing the second row will increase that cargo capacity to a full 150 cubic feet. Removing the second-row seats can be quite the chore as they are both heavy and awkward. Sliding them when they are in place can be difficult at times too. Once you're set into place though, it is very easy to get comfortable. The touchscreen interface is fairly simple to use and shouldn't take much of a learning curve, even for the most non-savvy of techno-geeks.

Performance

The only available engine option, the 3.5L V6, pumps out 266 horses and 245 ft.-lbs. of torque. Fuel economy is estimated to stand at 18/25 mpg (city/highway), but adding the AWD option will drop those numbers a couple of digits each. Past Sienna owners have also reported that fuel efficiency drops rather quickly if you don't keep up with routine maintenance items, but that should go without saying. If you don't have a lead foot you should maintain decent numbers at the pump.

If you're looking for a well-handling minivan you may want to check out the SE model of the Sienna as all others exhibit a rather numb steering feel. Still, the transmission offers smooth, effortless shifts and the engine can more than hold its own under a load. The SE model's suspension is recalibrated so it rides a bit firmer than normal. If you're looking for a softer feel on the road you may want to switch to a different trim level here. A towing package is available but who really wants to do some heavy towing with their minivan? If you're looking to haul a small, one-man watercraft or a motorcycle then you're probably safe. Anything more than that and you could run the risk of shortening the transmission life, even with the tow package.

Safety & Reliability

Stability and traction control, along with full side-curtain airbags and a driver's knee airbag are all standard on any trim level of the 2013 Sienna. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, otherwise known as The Government, gives the Sienna a five-star rating in all crash tests aside from the rollover test where it garnered four stars. This is typical of the minivan class and the highest one can score in the NHTSA crash tests.

As for reliability, it doesn't get much better than what Toyota is making right now. J.D. Power & Associates has ranked the Sienna as the most reliable minivan available for two years in a row now. The most commonly reported items for the past few years have been the Engine Diagnostic Light, not an uncommon problem in any line of vehicles, and a rattle in the front end usually attributed to a loose heat shield on the exhaust.

Interested to see how the 2013 Toyota Sienna ranks against similar cars in terms of key attributes? Here are the 2013 Toyota Sienna rankings for MPG, horsepower, torque, leg room, head room, shoulder room, hip room and so forth.